Seymour, Karns and TSD add to CSA recognition
By Steve Williams
Head coaches of 23 local high school boys basketball teams submitted a maximum of five players to receive the Careacter Star Athlete award for the 2022-23 season and they are listed in this week’s issue of The Knoxville Focus.
The CSA award, which was started 22 years ago by Dave Moore of the CARE program, is based on Attitude, Performance, Careacter, Community Service and Grades.
In addition to the honorees having their name listed in The Knoxville Focus this week, each will receive a Careacter Star T-shirt, a letter of recognition and a certificate.
Coaches from Seymour, Karns and Tennessee School for the Deaf added to the recognition by sending in an example of good character they recalled observing during the season.
The Focus congratulates all the Careacter Star Athletes!
BRANDON CHANDLER
Seymour High School
“This particular student-athlete exemplifies character in every sense imaginable. He was a true leader on and off the court. He is a four-year player and senior at Seymour High School. He was a leader by example and tried to encourage all teammates as much as possible. He had a heart of gold and really took it personally when we lost. He made everyone around him better by his play, but more importantly, his true love for his teammates and coaches.
“On many occasions, he sat with me (the head coach) and hammered out motivation, encouragement and ideas to help the program and individuals besides himself succeed. He would have definitely been very involved with community programs if asked, but he had to work along with school and basketball. He tried to help his Mother out with bills and expenses as much as possible.
“He might not have the stats or visible things that would cause people to view him as a player that will be missed after graduation. He will possibly be missed more than any other player because of what he did for Seymour Basketball. He is very recognizable by everyone because of his huge beard, but more than that, he is a fine young man!”
Mark Mobley
Head Basketball Coach
Seymour High School
WALKER LOCKHART
Karns High School
“Walker is a natural leader and a great competitor. It is easy to see these ‘Careacter’ traits and his determination to leave it on the court for his teammates. What you don’t see is the leader that he is off the court. Walker is the first guy to show up to kids’ camps in the summer to build and mentor with the young Karns Beavers. Walker is the president of the athlete leadership council at Karns High School. This group of young men and women volunteer their time in the community and also here at Karns High to better our campus and make it something to be proud of.
“Walker also is the guy who played injured for 10 games and never complained one time. He continued to show up to practice and games daily and played some of his best basketball while dealing with a serious injury. There are not many students or players in the Knoxville area that I could see having better character than Walker Lockhart.”
Chris Hartsfield
Assistant Basketball Coach
Karns High
TSD TEAM
“This is a ‘true’ post-pandemic team, for we had nine inexperienced players who haven’t played a basketball game for two years and yet we managed to win six games this year! They just did not ‘give up’!”
Barry Swafford
Head Basketball Coach
Tennessee School for the Deaf
2022-23 BOYS BASKETBALL CAREACTER STAR ATHLETES
AUSTIN-EAST
Justin Pruitt
Noah Djenini
Ryan Seagrave
LeShaud Holloway
Jaxon Young
BEARDEN
Jake Poole
Nelson Karnowski
Cam Butcher
Drew Parrott
Andrew Baker
BEREAN CHRISTIAN
Josh Myers
Christopher Belew
Matthew Palmer
Cooper Mann
Jake Brady
CARTER
Jaxson Shuford
Dylan McGhee
Gage Hutchison
Justus Clabough
Blake Smith
CATHOLIC
Daniel Iverson
Yesan Warren
Ben Sompayrac
Riley Gladwin
Caleb Asbaty
CENTRAL
Keise Perez
Trey Robinson
Josh Brown
Will Meadows
Parker Hampton
CAK
Bennett Simerlein
Brogdon Lundgren
Bryson White
Foster Coleman
Zachary Coffman
CCS
Tyson Zachary
Noah Gilder
John Dunn
Jacob Dunn
Landon Housley
FARRAGUT
Tyson Jackson
Preston Fuller
Dallas Carbaugh
Luke Johnson
Garrick Hrivnak II
FBA
Zachary Helton
Justus Farris
Kyler Lee
FULTON
Travis Ballenger
Travis Turner
Tavon Baptiste
Tyler Lee
Derrick Smith
GIBBS
Mason Melton
Hayden Mills
Zack Turner
Connor Atkins
Brady Hughes
GCA
Camden Mabe
Reed Farmer
Weston Edmondson
Christian Vela
Cameron Mercer
HALLS
Caleb Shaffer
Ethan Shaffer
Ben Thomas
Grayson Bishop
Elijah Elliott
HVA
Hakeem Rashid
Tommy Joseph
Barron Scheetz
Issac Ratliff
Will Fellers
KARNS
Terry Sutton
Walker Lockhart
Warda Apait
Jaylen Roberts
Andy Stamper
POWELL
Bryce Jardret
Keleb Walker
Caleb Heard
Jayden Colon
Nathan Russell
SEYMOUR
Connor Hilton
Brandon Chandler
Eli Williams
Josh Nevins
Jonathan Lane
SOUTH-DOYLE
Nolan Brang
Spencer Reynolds
Derrick Elder
Holden Lowe
Alijah Gracia
TSD
Garrett Burns
Jordan Grimes
Gage Conger
Elijah Echols
Mason Little
TKA
Damjan Simun
Elia Bongiomo
Zeke Connatser
Jack Townsend
Harrison Rollins
WEBB
John Tolsma
Lukas Walls
Lane Shipley
Drake Ingram
Markeis Barrett
WEST
Harlan Dill
Jailon Hill
Hunter Dance
Joe Dupree
Dane Clark
